Long Beach August imports jump 13.6%

Long Beach August imports jump 13.6% Boosted by a robust initial wave of holiday season shipments, terminal operators at the Port of Long Beach reported record-breaking imports that drove total container cargo volume up nearly 10 percent in August, the port reported Monday.
   'Anticipating a solid year, the entire goods movement industry has hired additional workers to handle the growing demand for trade,' said Chris Lytle, the port's new managing director of trade relations and port operations. 'Shipments are moving very smoothly.'
   In August, traditionally the first month of peak season, the total number of cargo containers climbed 9.7 percent to 675,058 TEUs, compared with the same month a year ago. Imports, including the holiday merchandise, jumped 13.6 percent to 347,829 TEUs. For a second consecutive month, exports (mostly raw materials, including recycled paper) slowed, declining 5 percent to 105,256 TEUs. The number of empty containers climbed 11.8 percent to 221,973 TEUs.